"To stand among 16,000 officers and soldiers at Ba Dinh Square – where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence 80 years ago – is an unparalleled honor," said 41-year-old Huyen, a Vietnamese expat living in Swindon, England, after the rehearsal on 27/8.

Initially, she only planned to return for the National Day celebrations. However, the owner of a beauty salon in England canceled her UNESCO Ao Dai show in France to participate in the overseas Vietnamese contingent starting on 19/8. "There are things you have to sacrifice, but in return, I get to experience this sacred moment with my people," she said.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, this is the first time overseas Vietnamese have had a dedicated contingent in the National Day parade.

The rehearsal days became an opportunity for about 50 people from various countries to connect. They all shared their excitement about the country's transformation. "Everyone in our group wants to share this image with the world, to show international friends that Vietnam has both a heroic history and is moving forward strongly with its own identity," Huyen said.

Vu Thu Huyen participating in the parade rehearsal on 27/8. Photo courtesy of the subject

Vu Thu Huyen participating in the parade rehearsal on 27/8. Photo courtesy of the subject

On the afternoon of 29/8, upon arriving in Hanoi, 40-year-old Cao Thi Thom, a Vietnamese expat from Japan, felt the capital city was both familiar and unfamiliar. Familiar because of the memories of her time as a student at Trung Vuong High School came flooding back. Unfamiliar because everywhere was adorned with red and gold starred flags. She was moved by the image of many women wearing red and gold starred scarves with their white Ao Dai, in their hair, and tied around their wrists.

Thom had been restless since the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification (30/4/2025) because she felt she had missed a part of history. This time, despite her busy work schedule in Japan, she was determined to return home. The hardest part was requesting leave when her company had no replacement. But surprisingly, when she mentioned it, her boss said, "If you're going to Vietnam, go early in case the flights are full."

That statement was the push she needed to book her ticket immediately. "There are moments that, if missed, will be regretted for a lifetime. And A80 is one of those moments," she said.

As soon as she unpacked, she and her friends went to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to take photos. The group then staked out a spot on Tran Phu Street to watch the general rehearsal on the morning of 30/8.

"My uncle, a soldier, died in 1972, and his remains have yet to be found. The atmosphere of this grand celebration makes me feel both grateful to the generations of fathers and brothers who have fallen and a sense of comfort for the families of martyrs," she said.

The overseas Vietnamese contingent participating in the parade celebrating 80 years of Vietnam's National Day. Photo: Thu Huyen

The overseas Vietnamese contingent participating in the parade celebrating 80 years of Vietnam's National Day. Photo: Thu Huyen

From Dubai (UAE), 33-year-old Vu Hai Duc also took leave to return home for the A80 parade. In recent days, he has witnessed many streets closed, making travel more inconvenient, but people remain united and eager to "catch the parade."

What Duc admired most were the soldiers. For the past four months, they have trained under the scorching sun, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, and during rehearsals in rain and floods. "I was deeply moved when I heard a soldier say that the changing weather affected his health, but whenever he stood in formation and saw the loving eyes of the people along the streets, he gave 200% of his energy," Duc recounted.

Duc has attended many large-scale national events abroad, but the feeling of the parade in his homeland is completely different. Besides the solemnity, he clearly felt the connection and unity of the people. "That atmosphere is both sacred and intimate, something I believe only those returning home from abroad can feel," he expressed.

Huyen agreed. Having lived in Europe for 18 years, she has witnessed many parades, each country with its own unique mark. For example, the British Royal parades are very formal, majestic, and ceremonial. In Vietnam, she finds the parade to be very festive and unifying. Each resounding footstep is not just a perfectly aligned formation, "it's also the harmony of the people and the Fatherland."

Cao Thi Thom checking in at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on the evening of 30/8. Photo courtesy of the subject

Cao Thi Thom checking in at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on the evening of 30/8. Photo courtesy of the subject

For Huyen, and any overseas Vietnamese, returning during this occasion is not just to witness, but also to connect and share.

"I consider being part of the parade a personal honor and an opportunity to spread patriotism and stand with the Fatherland on its path of development," the Vietnamese expat from England said.

Phan Duong